Gun carrying harness



July 23, 1963 R. LERUDE sun cmvmc HARNESS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March20. 1961 FIG. 2

i fliiuib INVENTOR.

July 23, 1963 Filed March 20, 1961 L. R. LERUDE GUN CARRYING HARNESS 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,098,591 GUN CARRYHNG HARNESS Leslie R. Lerude,195 Crammer Lane, Reno, Nev. Filed Mar. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 96,867 1Claim. or. 224-4 This invention relates to a harness for carrying a gunor similar elongated object.

An object of the invention is the provision of a novel gun harness thatcarries the gun in a fixed vertical position on the user with the barrelpointing upward thereby assuring the optimum in safety precautions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel gun harnessfor carrying a gun in such a manner that the hands of the gun user arefree at all times.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel harness forcarrying a gun that is simple to construct, that is easy to use and thatis positive in its action.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a harness forcarrying a gun that is compact, that is easy to assemble anddisassemble, that requires a minimum of maintenance, and that requires aminimum of skill to use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel harness forcarrying the gun that is easy to produce, that has a minimum of partsand that is inexpensive to produce.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel harness forcarrying a gun that may utilize portions of a conventional gun sling.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel harness thatis readily adaptable by persons of different sizes and shapes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparentupon reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 shows the harness attached to a conventional gun.

FIGURE 2 shows a hunter utilizing the harness to carry a gun.

FIGURE 3 is a front view showing a modified form of the invention.

FIGURE 4 is a back view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention is shown embodied in aharness for carrying a gun 11 on a users back in such a manner that thegun 11 is positively held in position yet permits free use of the usershands. and arms. While the harness in this embodiment of the inventionis shown as being adapted for use with the gun 11, it

is to be understood that the harness may also be used to.

carry other elongated objects. The gun 11 in this instance is aconventional rifle 11 having a gun sling swivel or eyelet 12 mounted ona forearm 13 adjacent the end of the barrel 14 and a gun sling swivel oreyelet 16 mounted on the stock 17 below the trigger guard 29 andadjacent the butt of the stock. As shown, the swivels 12 and 16 areshaped to receive a strap having a generally elongated rectangularcross-section. The harness as shown in FIG URE 1 is connected to the gun11 and shows the various components in a general position they wouldassume on a users body. The harness includes a gun sling 21 adapted tobe interconnected with the gun sling swivels 12 and 16, strap means 22arranged to have an intermediate portion extend across the back of theuser and belt means 23 interconnected with the strap means 22 andarranged to pass around the users Waist on the side away from the gunand be releasably interconnected with the gun sling 21 at the front ofthe user.

The gun sling 21 in this instance is of conventional construction andcomprises a leather strap having a central portion 24, an end portion 2threaded through the swivel 12 and in side by side relation to thecentral por- Patented July 23, 1963 tion 24 and an end portion 27threaded through the swivel 16 and in side by side relation to thecentral portion 24- and the end 26. A slide 28 encircles the centralportion 24 and the end portion 26 and 27 adjacent the swivel 12 and aslide buckle 29 of conventional construction encircles the centralportion 24 and the end portion 27 adjacent the swivel 16. The slidebuckle 29 is formed with a central prong shaped to pass through alignedholes in the end portion 27 and the central portion 24 of the strap. Theslide buckle 29 and the end portion 26 and 27 and the central portion 24are arranged so that the length of the sling may be adjusted as desiredby moving the end portion 27 relative to the central portion 24. Theslide buckle 29 is, of course, adjusted accordingly. When the sling isused to carry the gun 11, the length of the sling is such that with thegun in a vertical position on the users back, as shown in FIGURE 2, thesling 21 passes from a position adjacent the back of the user down overthe front of the users shoulder to a position near his hip or waist.

The strap means 22 in this instance is formed by a strap 31, a strap 32and a ring 33. The strap 31 at its upper end is interconnected with asnap 34. To effect this, the extreme end 30 of the strap 31 is threadedthrough a ring 36 of the strap 34 and is folded back on the strapproper. A rivet 37 extending through the strap 31 at the end 39 of thestrap 31 securely holds the strap and snap 34 together. The other end ofthe strap: 31 is threaded through the ring 33 and is folded back on thestrap proper. A rivet 38 extending through the strap proper and the end35 portion holds the strap 31 and ring 33in assembled relation. The snap34 is shaped to fasten to the sling swivel 12. The strap 32 connected atits upper end with the ring 33 is interconnected with a snap 41 at itslower end. The lower end 41) of the strap is threaded through a ring 39of the snap 41 and is folded back on the strap 32 proper. A rivet 42extending through the end and the strap 32 holds the strap 33 and snap41 in assembled relation. The upper end of the strap 32 is threadedthrough the ring 33 and folded back on the strap 32. A rivet 43extending through the end 45 and the strap holds the strap 32 andthering 33 in assembled relation. The straps 31 and 32 may be formedfrom ribbon like leather strap. The strap 31 is of suificient length sothat it extends from a position adjacent the gun bar-rel diagonallydownward across the users back to position the ring 33 on the back ofthe user at a position adjacent the users side away from that on whichthe gun 11 is Positioned. The strap 32 is of sufficient length so thatit extends from a position adjacent the gun stock upwardly across thehip and lower back of the user to the ring 33.

The belt means 23 comprises a strap 44 shaped to pass from the back ofthe user around his waist and across the front of the user and snap 46adapted to be releasably interconnected with the gun sling 21. At theback of the user, the end 5d of the strap 44 is threaded through thering 33 and folded back on the strap 44. A rivet extends through the end50 and the strap 44- holds the strap 44 and ring 33 in assembledrelation. The snap 46 is adapted to hasten on to a ring 47 mounted on aslide 48 disposed on the gun sling 21. As shown, the slide 48 is formedfrom leather snugly encircling the sling 21 and is interconnected withthe ring to provide a fixed mounting for the ring. The end of the belt44 is threaded through a ring 49 of the snap 46 and is folded back onthe strap 4-4. A buckle 51 encircles. the belt 44 and the end 611 andholds the components in assembled relation. The buckle 51 is providedwith a prong 52 adapted to extend through aligned holes in the strap 44and the end 60. This construction permits the length of the belt to beadjusted to the size of the user. The snap 46 may be of any conventionalconstruction; however, I have found that a 3 Hubbard snap isexceptionally satisfactory, the reason for this being that the Hubbardsnap permits ready fastening and unfastening while at the same timebeing rugged and positive in its action.

FIGURES 3 and 4 show a modified form of the invention. In thisembodiment of the invention the gun sling 70 is formed by two parts 61and 62 interconnected at an intermediate portion by a ring 63. The otherparts of the harness are as described and shown herein before andinclude a strap means M, a belt 66 and a snap 67. This constructionoperates in exactly the same way as the other embodiment.

The use of the harness shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 is readily apparent fromthe drawing but may be briefly summarized as follows:

The gun sling 2-1 is placed on the gun 1d. in a conventional manner andadjusted so that the users arm and shoulder may pass between the sling21 and the gun 11 when the gun is mounted in a vertical position on theback of the user as shown.

The snap 34 is fastened to the swivel 12 and snap 41 is fastened to theswivel 16. The length of the belt 23 is adjusted to the user. The gun isthen put in a vertical position on the back of the user, the arm andshoulder of the user being threaded between the gun 11 and the sling 21.The straps 31 and 32 are pulled across the back of the user, the belt 23is pulled around the waist and across the front of the user. The snap 46is then fastened to the ring 47. It is to be observed that when properlyadjusted, the Weight of the gun is distributed to various parts of theusers body.

To remove the harness it is only necessary to unfasten the snap 46 fromthe ring 47. The gun can then be readily removed from the back of theuser.

While I have shown that the length of sling 21 and belt 23 may beadjusted, it is to be understood that the straps 31 and 32 may also beconstructed so that their length may be adjusted. Also, it is to beunderstood that any suitable materials may be used in making the variouscomponents of the harness. It is to be understood that While I haveemployed rivets throughout for purposes of illustration, it is alsocontemplated that where desired, the folded back end portions may besewn in position or held in position by lacing or anyother suitablemeans.

It is apparent that this harness has many advantages and can be widelyused. For example, in horseback riding the gun can be carried on theusers back when he is getting on and off a horse. This permits the usermaximum use of both hands at a time when he needs them most. It is alsoexcellent for deer hunters or duck hunters who need both hands incarrying back game. In cold weather this harness permits a user to putboth hands in his pockets to keep them warm. It is to be observed, also,that at all times the barrel of the gun is pointing upwardly therebyassuring an optimum of safety precautions. This harness is alsoadvantageous as the gun is positively held in position and does notjostle "about to chafe the users back and shoulder.

I claim:

In combination a gun and harness, said gun having upper and lowerswivels, an adjustable sling attached at its ends to the upper and lowerswivels, 'a slide on said sling, said harness comprising a first strapmeans having first and second sections, each of said sections beingslightly longer than one-half the length of said sling, a securingmeans, one end of said first section being connected to said upperswivel and one end of said second section being connected to said lowerswivel, said other ends of said first and second sections beingconnected to said securing means, an adjustable Waist strap, said waiststrap being secured at one end to said securing means and at its otherend to said slide on said sling.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS919,301 Anderson Apr. 27, 1909 1,511,259 Braden Oct. 14, 1924 2,715,989Sjodin et al Aug. 23, 1955 2,884,172 Kubo Apr. 28, 1959

